Tag Archives: Church

Burdens

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Burdens and troubles are part of life. I will have them. You will have them. Each of us, today, as we are reading this, has some type of burden that we are dealing with. There is something in our life that is wearying for each of us.

Paul today in Galatians gives us some advice for handling our burdens. Listen to what he says in 6:2-5:

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.

burdenHe basically gives us two pieces of advice that seem to be the opposite of each other. First, he says in verse 2, to bear each other’s burdens. We are supposed to help and take care of each other. That’s what our command is as Christians, to care for and to love one another.

But, look what he says later on in verse 5, each of us must bear our own load.

Wait, what? How does that work? On one help each other, and on the other, take care of yourself. What is the deal here?

This is what Paul means and what we should do as Christians. First, we should our very best to take care of our loads and our struggles. We should do all that we can do to take care of our burdens and struggles.

Why?

Because there is a time when our friend won’t be able to take care of theirs. And we have to be there to help them. It’s sort of like why we should save money, to be able to help someone out in their time of need. If we don’t have any money saved, we can’t help.

But, if we do, we can help them out.

So, if we take care of our burdens, we are free to help each other out.

And, there will be a time when we need that help as well. We are going to need help with our burdens and struggles and worries. We will need help. We will need support.

We will need each other.

So, today, we bear our burdens. So that we can bear one another’s burdens.

Today, may we be there for each other in our hours of need.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Charging Hell with a Water Pistol

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There’s some days when I’m reading the bible and it just says to me – Boom!

One of my professors used to talk about that sometimes when we really believe, I mean, really believe what we can do, or better said, what God can do through us, we will be so fired up that we will want to charge hell with a water pistol.

The odds may look long, but we know that with God on our side, me, you, a super-soaker, and God can defeat the power of Hell.

Today’s passage did that for me.

Look at what happens in Act 17:6-7 today:

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.

They dragged the disciples before the leaders and said – these are the ones that have turned the world upside down.

Come on now. That’s it right there.

Don’t you want them to say about us, those are the ones that have turned the world upside down. They have this King Jesus, that they follow and the change the world.

They help heal broken families. They love the unloveable. They help the poor. They feed the hungry. They proclaim the freedom that is found in no other name but Jesus.

They are crazy enough to think that they can change the world. They have turned the world upside down.

Through following Jesus, through His power and life, through proclaiming the gospel, so can we!

It doesn’t have to be the same. It can change. We can change. The world can change. Through Christ and His power, we can turn this world upside down.

We can do it. Today. Through His power. Let’s turn the world upside down. Jesus told us that the gates of will not triumph against His church. Let’s charge hell with a water pistol today. Today, through Christ, we can do it!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

One Church

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There is only one church.

Now this church will have a variety of locations. And denominations. And worship styles. And theology. And opinions. And preferences. And visions.

But there is only one church.

Now this church my rural. Or urban. Or suburban.

This church may be made of older member. Or younger members.

This church may worship to “rock” music. Or the church may worship to “organ” music.

But there is only one church.

Listen to what Paul says today in 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7:

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

There are many gifts. Many services. But the same Lord. There many activities. But the same God that empowers them.

The Spirit is given for the common good.

Today, there is one church. Now that church may be Baptist, or Methodist, or Catholic, or Non-Denominational, or . . . . .

These labels don’t matter. There is one God. And we are His church.

Today, no matter what church we belong to, remember, there is one church.

And may we together work for the common calling of taking Jesus Christ’s love to the world.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The One Thing We Have to Agree On

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I am convinced of lots of things in my life. Some important. Some, not so much.

One of the things that I am convinced of is that while we all may be part of different churches we are all part of the same “church.” The body of Christ. The body of Christ is made up all believers in Jesus Christ, no matter what local congregation or denomination we may be part of.

The body of Christ is made of all those that call upon His name and wish to see Him glorified and lifted up, no matter what tradition or tribe they may be part of. That tribe may be Baptist, or Methodist, or Pentecostal, or Catholic, or any dozens of other groups that we are part of.

Through Jesus Christ, we are all one.

That’s how He sees us.

And, I’m convinced that’s how the world sees us too. The world doesn’t seen us in all of our different traditions and denominations, it see us all as “Christian.” We are all a mass of “Christians” no matter what group we are part of.

So, when we as Christians nuke each other and throw bombs at each other, what does it say to a dying world? If we can’t get along and work together and be the church, then what hope is there?

Listen to what Paul says today in Romans 16 17-18:

I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Watch out for divisions today. Watch out for those things that separate us today. This is not to say that we all agree on everything. We don’t. We all have real differences. Real things that separate us.

And you know that’s ok. We don’t have to agree on everything. In fact, there’s only one thing that we do have to agree on.

Jesus.

As one of my heroes said – if your heart has been warmed as my heart has, then brother give me your hard.

We are all on the same team. We have much more in common than that separates us! We serve the same God. Let’s work for the same purpose. God is good. He is worthy of our praise.

May we all as Christians work together for His purpose!

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones

Good Will Win

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I just got back from the Mississippi Annual Conference this past weekend. It’s the yearly gathering of pastors from all around the state. There are times of worship, times of business, times of reflection.

And in the state of the current United Methodist Church, times of sadness. We closed more churches in Mississippi last year than we started. We had more pastors retire than were commissioned for ministry. Our budget remains very, very tight, and we are only meeting 80% of it.

Not to mention all controversies that swirl around the national/international church.

But it’s not just the Methodists that struggle. Every denomination has plateaued. The largest growing religions group in our nation is “those not affiliated,” meaning they aren’t part of a church.

We see these things locally with many churches in our hometowns struggling to grow, to meet their financial obligations, to be relevant in their communities.

So, with all that in mind, listen to what Jesus says to Peter today in Matthew 16:17-18:

And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

To those of you in a panic today about your church, your larger tradition, all of these things, listen to Jesus.

The gates of hell will not triumph against His church. God will win. Good will win. The Body of Christ will be victorious in the end.

The church is His body and His bride, and He will return for Her one day. So, yes, in 2012, it may look like things are bad, but, His word tells us that He will win.

Evil will not. Death will not. Pain will not.

Good will win. In life. In the church. In the universe.

In your life.

So, hold on, hold fast. Help is on the way. Don’t lose sight of that. Don’t forget.

God will win.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Lord Make Us One?

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We live in a world of differences. We all have our side. Sports, politics, music, hobbies, churches, we all have different likes and dislikes, different things that really are significant, but that separate us.

And we live in an age we are told and encouraged to put our differences aside and work together.

And you know what? That’s hard. It’s hard to be one. It’s hard to be united. It’s hard to be on the same page.

Even with someone you like. It’s hard to always agree and work together.

And so, when the church and when our faith calls us to be one, the question is how?

Lord, make us one. How?

Listen to what Paul says this morning in Ephesians 2:16-19:

and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Paul says that we are reconciled into one body, through the cross and through Jesus. Through Him, we are no longer strangers, through Him, we are fellow citizens, through Him, we have the same father.

Through Him. Through Jesus. Through ourselves, we will tear each other apart. We will fuss and fight. We will find our problems, and find the things that we disagree on and that separate us.

When we focus on ourselves, we find division. When we focus on Jesus, we find unity. He is our unity. He is our peace. He is our hope. He is our life.

When we place the focus on ourselves, our stuff, and our opinions, we will find and have more division.

When we take our eyes off ourselves, and put them on Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection, we find unity, hope and peace.

Lord, today, please make us one. Let us each focus on Jesus with all that we are. And in that, we can find that unity.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

The Very Best Thing We Can Do

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What is the best thing that you can do today for yourself and your own faith?

What is the best thing that you can do today for someone else and for their faith?

What is the best thing that you can do today for the church and for its witness in the local community and in the world?

What is the best thing that you can do today for our nation and for our leaders?

The answer to all of these questions is given by Paul today in 1 Timothy 2:1-4:

First of all, then, I urgethat supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Pray.

Paul tells us today to pray for all people. To pray for kings and for leaders.

Pray for the strong and the mighty, pray for the weak and the frail. Pray for the ones that you love and admire, pray for the ones that you can’t get along with.

Pray for your friends, and as Jesus would say, pray for your enemies.

Why?

As verse 4 says – God wants all to be saved. Everyone. John 3:16 reminds that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for the world. God wants every one to be saved. To know Him. To enter into relationship with Him.

Everyone.

And so we do our part. We love. We forgive. We share. We witness. And we do the very best thing that we can do.

We pray.

Today, pray. Pray for all. Pray specific for specific needs, and pray in general for things you don’t know about.

But pray. And in doing this, we are pleasing God. And doing the very best thing that we can do!

Today, may we pray.

Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.

Same Team

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I wonder what it looks like to the world when we as Christians can’t get along?

I wonder what it looks like when let real, but insignificant, theological disagreements cause us to separate?

I wonder what it looks like when we as Christians nuke each other?

I told my folks last night in our first Disciple Bible Study that I like my theology. I think my theology is right. I like what I believe and I think that it’s Biblical and grounded in what is right.

But, you know how much that matters?  Not much.  You know what matters?

Loving in Jesus name.  My folks have heard me quote Phillip Yancey before – “No one ever says, I became a Christian because I lost an argument one night.” I’ve met many who say, “I became a Christian because someone loved me.”

Paul puts it this way in 1 Corinthians:

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. For some members of Chloe’s household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some of you are saying, “I am a follower of Paul.” Others are saying, “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Peter,” or “I follow only Christ.” Has Christ been divided into factions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not!

We are on the same team. Through Christ, we are all brothers and sisters.

We have the same Father.  We have the same Savior. We are led by the same Spirit.  In spite of any disagreements we may have.  In spite of any different views on things.

If you are Christian, we are on the same team.

Imagine if the church worked together more? Imagine if we as Christians worked together more.  Imagine if we were to pull together and go on the attack against the forces of evil.

Just think what we can do.

Today, let there be no division among us. Let us work together. Let us pull together.  Let us serve together.  Let us love together.

Let us love each other.

We are on the same team.  Today, may there be no division among us.

 

What Can We Learn from Acts 15, or the Institution of the church actually matters

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Working through Acts 15 today.  Just a few thoughts that I’d like to share.

First, go check out this passage.

1.  Church matters. Everything in Acts happens in the confines of church. We see folks converted and plug into church. We see discussions and arguments within the church and the church say – we will go this way, this what we will do.

We see the church pray over and send folks out. We see church structure established.  We see leaders emerge.

In short, even though we live in an age where the growing edge of the evangelical world loves to critique and  criticize the church for not “doing” more or not being perfect, church is a good thing.

Yes, I said it.  Church is a good thing. Church matters.  It’s important.  The actual church matters.  Yes, the institution of the church matters.

It’s not just “me and Jesus.”  We as Christians are called to be part of something, part of this body.

Yes.  The institution of the church is a good thing.  Is is perfect.  No?  But it matters.

Even though it is fashionable to beat up on the institutional church, it still matters. I agree with Bill Hybals, the local church is the hope fo the world, because in the local church people meet Jesus.

Church matters.

2. There are moments of disagreement – Conflict is ok.  We see the church argue over what to do, where to go in regards to the Gentiles being converted.  There were arguments.

The church is also made of people. That means we are going to have disagreements.  That’s ok.  What do we do then? Can we stay focused on Jesus and His mission for the church?  Our will we love our opinion and “getting our way” more than we love Jesus and His mission for His church?

Conflict is not avoidable. It will arise. How will we handle it.

3. Leadership requires courage.  Peter had to speak. There was silience. Folks were looking, waiting. Peter stepped up to the plate. He spoke and gave leadership.

To be a leader means you have to make the hard call sometimes. Make the hard choice. Speak when no one wants to.  It ain’t easy. But, it’s what you have to do, if you lead.

These are just a few thoughts.  Hope they are are helpful to you!